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2024 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

We've updated our Horse Level system! Review our handy chart at the button below.

Looking for a gentle giant, with a ‘puppy-dog personality’ who will get you noticed in the show ring, or even just give some color to your ‘pasture ornaments’? State Champ, AKA “Jake” is the happy-go-lucky guy for the job!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - 2 - Jake is a mellow fellow, who is typically easy to lead. He’s still young, and quite large, so he may need a reminder to keep some space, but he’s exceptionally well-behaved.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - 2 - Many horses have likes and dislikes when being groomed, but Jake has wowed us with how he seems to enjoy everything (even the hard brush over his belly). This horse enjoys being loved on, and was only slightly wary when trimming his ear hair!
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Barefoot is fine for this guy while he’s out of training! Adopters may need to add shoes when his work increases, or depending on the terrain, but for us he does well sans shoes! Jake gets some added fat supplements to meet the caloric needs of his big, growing body without overloading him with concentrates, but he has a great appetite.
• Riding - Level 1 - 2 - While Jake has yet to start ‘real work’ with us, he was a super stellar mount to just sit on and walk around! Because of his age and size, he will do best with someone who has experience with, or who has the guidance of a trainer who is experienced in bringing along big babies (support with patience and a sense of humor are key tools!).
• General Demeanor - Level 1  - Happy to greet strangers and make new friends, Jake is in our easiest category because he’s been so unproblematic in different setups! He is happy and quiet in a stall, and low-mid ranked in the field. You may see from the marks on his coat that he likes to play with his turnout buddies (he is in an overnight turnout with several other young geldings), and we banged his tail to help it grow more evenly after a fellow gelding munched on it.
• Physical Capability* - Level 2 - Jake is healing from a suspensory injury in his left front and needs another 30 days of turnout and foundational work on the ground before getting back into training. He’d be best suited for a lower-impact career, but fortunately, since he’s a big guy, he can get over obstacles without much effort! We could see him being a fantastic ammy-friendly option for the low hunter ring with some time and development.

 CLICK FOR HORSE LEVEL INFORMATION 

Interested in this horse? Already approved adopters may reach out to this horse's trainer at the "Email About This Horse" button above for further information. Still need to become approved? Learn about the process and start your questionnaire at newvocations.org/adopt. Approved applications are valid for 2 years.

*Assessments are based on information provided by the donors, physical/ mental assessments done by our professional team, as well as any veterinary examinations done at the farm (as needed). Approved, prospective adopters are welcome to arrange and coordinate a PPE if they choose, after speaking with the trainer at the respective facility of the horse. Adopters may also elect to use the 60-day trial period to thoroughly vet and assess the fit of the horse at their barn to ensure a great match!

ABOUT OUR ADOPTION FEES

New Vocations intentionally sets our horses’ adoption fees lower than the average cost of buying a Thoroughbred or Standardbred from a private seller (in today’s market, horses coming right off the track are often listed at $5,000 to $10,000!).

Our fees range from $0 (waived) to $3,500.

• Fees typically correspond with a horse’s Anticipated Physical Capability. So, horses that are found to be best suited for non-riding careers (our Pasture Potatoes) have waived fees, while the fees for horses assessed to be suitable for high-impact careers will be up to $3,500.

While our adoption fees are low, it’s important to remember that costs associated with ongoing care and additional training for a horse can be high. We hope that by helping adopters save money upfront, you’ll have more funds available to cover the costs of properly caring for and training a retired racehorse.

When you adopt a horse through New Vocations, you’re helping two horses; your new family member and the one who takes their place in our program. Our facilities are nearly always at max capacity, which means we can’t take in a new horse until one is adopted. Keeping our adoption fees low helps us find appropriate homes for horses quickly, enabling us to help even more horses transition off the track as stalls open up in our barns!

Another perk of adopting from us: we do all we can to give you the most value for your adoption fee. Most adoptable horses have been in the program for a minimum of 60 days, during which they've rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, been evaluated by trainers and veterinarians, and have been in regular training with a professional. On average, the monetary value of these services exceeds $5,000. Any medical records (often including X-rays and ultrasounds) and pertinent history we have on each horse are also available to interested and approved adopters.